Toilet seat cover



Sept 1963 A. E. WARNBERG TOILET SEAT COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 31, 1961 llE.-l

T .i. E.- 5

INVENTOR. 496/175- 5. ME/VJI-FG P 3, 1963 A. E. WARNBERG 3,102,276

TOILET SEAT COVER Filed July, 31. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. flaw/"5 E. ma /am;

WQ M A TTOPMHE United States Patent 3,102,276 Patented Sept. 3, 1963 3,102,276 TOILET SEAT COVER Archie E. Warnberg, 3224 NW. 31st St Gkiahoma City, Okla. Filed July 31, 1961, Ser. No. 123,209 6 Claims. (Cl. 4--242) This invention relates, as indicated, to an improved covering for a toilet seat.

Although a number of toilet seat covers of paper and fabric construction have been previously devised, none of these covers have been easily installed and removed so as to permit repeated use, and yet present an attractive, neat appearance at each installation upon the seat. One of the major problems has been the provision of suitable tensioning means at the inner periphery of the toilet seat cover as well as the outer periphery thereof to assure that the cover is stretched tautly across the seat at all times. Another enigma which has not been satisfactorily solved is that of fitting such covers neatly around or over the hinged structure which is attached to the back of the toilet seat. In the more recent types of toilet seat covers, the seat cover fits reasonably smoothly and easily over all of the toilet seat except that portion of the rear of the seat Where the hinges are attached. At this point, the seat is narrower in its traverse dimension, and the fabric of the cover tends to become bunched up or puckered, thus detracting from the appearance of the cover.

Dilficulty has previously been experienced in toilet seat construction in the provision of a suitable annular stiffening member around the inner edge of the toilet seat cover for the purpose of holding this edge against the under side of the toilet seat while biasing the edge outwardly to maintain the cover in tension and thus avoid wrinkling. Perhaps the most suitable type of construction which has been addressed to this particular problem is that which includes a wire member which is pushed through a chamher or sleeve formed around the inner periphery of the toilet seat cover so that the two ends of the wire are adjacent to each other. The wire, in occupying this chamber in the cover, describes a substantially circular configuration.

Such wires are generally characterized in having a certain amount of resiliency so that they are urged outwordly in a direction which enlarges the area inside the circle described by the wire. In this way, the toilet seat cover is constantly maintained under tension. However, when such annular wire members are used around the inner periphery of the toilet seat cover, several pronounced disadvantages result. For example, the free ends of the wire tend to puncture or protrude through certain portions of the cover. Also, substantial difficulty is experienced in washing the toilet seat cover with the annular Wire in place since the free ends of the wire may become fouled or impaled upon other clothes in the washer.

Moreover, such two-ended Wire members tend to lose their resiliency and strength after extended periods of use and require replacement. At such times, threading a new wire through the annular chamber around the inner periphery of the toilet seat cover is frequently a difiicult task since the leading end of the wire may hang or foul on the inner walls of the chamber, thereby preventing it from being passed smoothly through the entire chamber.

A further disadvantage of this construction is the tendency of the wire to become compressed with consequent overlap of the free ends thereof when a substantial force is applied to the outer periphery of the cover tending to pull the cover transversely across the seat from the center outwardly. Such compression reduces the area included within the encircling wire and tends to allow the wire to slip upwardly through the opening in the seat.

Finally, two-ended or interrupted wires of the type described, present some hazard to the user of the toilet since the sharp ends of the wire may be displaced to an upwardly protruding position, and in such position, may stab into the body of the user. This hazard has required manufacturers of such seat covers to carry substantial amounts of liability insurance as a safeguard against law suits arising from such accidents.

The present invention contemplates a cover for a toilet seal which presents a neat and attractive appearance when installed, and which is structurally improved by virtue of the employment of an endless annular stiffening member around the inner periphery of the cover. Moreover, the degree of safety afforded in the use of toilet seat covels has been greatly enhanced by the construction employed in the present invention.

in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the seat cover is constructed of two arcuate panels of soft pliable material which are sewn together at their ends to provide a single, annular cover which conforms generally to the configuration of the toilet seat to which it is to be applied. Adjacent one end of each of the panels, the panels are cut along the bias or slightly curved line so that when the panels are joined together at their ends, the rear portion of the cover is cut out to accommodate the hinge structure of the seat. In most instances, this construction will permit the seat cover to fit close to the hinge structure at the rear center of the seat without bunching or wrinkling. Not only is the avoidance of such launching or wrinkling desirable from the standpoint of aesthetic appearance of the cover when in place, but it is also of advantage in allowing the seat and the seatlig to occupy a position in juxtaposition to each other when both are raised upwardly against the tank of the toilet. Previously, the bunching up of the cover at the rear center of the seat was frequently so pronounced as to prevent the seat from remaining in a raised position unless held there by hand. Also, the tendency of the cover to overlap the hinges to some extent, which has been characteristic of previous types of cover constructions, is avoided with the present invention. Such overlapping occasionally resulted in interference with the proper functioning of the hinges when the toilet seat was raised, and also led to the deposition of rust and/or lubricant from the hinges on the cover.

As an additional feature of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the two panels of flexible material are sewn to each other in a manner which causes the cover to assume a generally cup-shaped configuration while it is in its relaxed state, that is, prior to installation upon the toilet seat. I have found that better conformity to the contours of the seat is obtained when this type of cover is used as opposed to those which are fiat and occupy a single plane before installation upon the seat. A heater, smoother appearance is thus attained.

The utilization of an endless, annular stiffening member which is secured around the inner peripheral edges of the cover and which functions to hold such inner edge against the underside of the toilet seat when the cover is in porntion is an especially important aspect of the present invention. The disadvantages which have been described above as attributable to the twoended wire stiffening members previously used are thereby avoided.

The outer periphery of the seat cover of the present invention is retained in position around the outer edge of the toilet seat by menus of an annular tensioning member which is secured to the outer edge of the cover. With this arrangement, the endless, annular stiiiening member secured to the inner edge of the cover fixes this edge with respect to the toilet seat, while the tensioning member secured around the outer edge functions to constantly place the cover in tension across the toilet seat.

In a. modified embodiment of the invention, the seat cover is constructed as two spnced-apart panels of soft, flexible material which are joined to each other only by the endless, annular stiffening member which is secured to the inner peripheries of the two panels and by a tensioning member, such as an elastic band or a drawstring which is secured to the outer periphery of the two panels. The two ends of each of the panels are spaced horizontally from the corresponding ends of the other panel so that the panels are positioned opposite each other on opposing sides of the toilet sent. The central rear portion and the central front portion of the scat are not covered. This arrangement, of course, avoids any interference of the cover with the proper functioning of the seat hinges. Moreover, the invention, when modified in this manner, has the additional advantage of avoiding soilage of the cover by small children, who sometimes. because of their diminutive side, do not sit for enough back on the toilet seat to avoid wetting the front portion of the cover.

In the modified embodiment of the invention, the endless stiffening mcmber which is provided at the inner periphery of the toilet seat cover is made of a resilient material and is formed with an outwardly extending convolution which may be desirably located in alignment with the rear center pontion of the seat. This outwardly extending convolution of the annular stiffening member permits an expanding force to be loaded into the annular stiffening member which functions to constantly bias the inner periphery of the cover outwardly along the under surface of the seat. If the annular stiliening member and the tensioning member are. in each case. slidingly secured to the cover, the convolution also assists in maintaining the spatial relationship of the two panels, and their positions relative to the toilet seat.

From the foregoing discussion of the present invention, it will be apparent that an important object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat cover which will be retained taut over the upper surface of the seat throughout the entire area thereof, and which will not develop creases or wrinkles from repeated use.

A further object of the invention is to eliminate a safety hazard which has characterized many previou types of toilet seat covers employing a two-ended wire secured to the inner periphery thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toilet seat cover which is especially well adapted for use upon the types of toilet seats which are provided with abutments or projections on the backside thereof for the attachrnent of hinges.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a toilet seat cover which may be more easily removed, washed and replaced on the toilet seat than has been characteristic of previous seat covers of this general type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toilet seat cover which will fit on various designs and configurations of toilet seats, and in each case will present an attractive and neat appearance.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toilet 4 seat cover which is less subject to being soiled by small children than previously devised types of seat covers.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be evident from the following detailed description, when read in I .uiunction with the accompanying drawings which illustr ate my invention.

In the drawi I EGU l is n plan view of the two panels of soft flexible in EliCi'ltll which are sewn together to form the preferred embodiment of the toilet seat cover of the present invention.

FiGUi is a perspective view illustrating the appearonce of i s toilet seat cover which is formed by sewing together the panels illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the toilet seat cover illustruted in FIGURE 2 as it appears when it is applied to a toilet seat.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the under side of the toilet seat with the cover place.

FIGURE 5 is a view in section taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of: a modified embodiment of present invention as the embodiment appears when it is placed on a toilet seat.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the underside of a toilet seat with the cover of FIGURE 6 in place thereon.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to FIGURE 1, a preferred embodiment of the toilet seat cover of the present invention is fabricated by sewing together a pair of arcuate panels 10 of soft, flexible material. The panels 18 are each shaped to conform to the general configuration of the seat upon which the cover is to be appiied. The opposing ends 12 of each of the panels It are cut along a bias 14 such that when the panels are joined to each other by sewing them together along the bias, the cover 15 produced has a cup shape or slightly dished configuration as illustrated in FIGURE 2. Adjacent one end portion 12 of each of the panels 10, the panels are cut away along a slightly curved line 16 in order to permit the cover to a fitted smoothly over the toilet seat without bunching or wrinkling in the vicinity of the hinge structure which is attached to back of the seat. When the panels 10 are joined, an arcuate indentation is formed at the rear of the cover 15 by the r edges 16 of each of the panels 10.

An annular stiliening member 20 which any suitably be constructed of wire or plastic, is secured around the inner peripheral edge 22 of the cover 15 in a Suitable manner, such as by folding the inner edge back upon itself to form a pocket or chamber as shown in FIGURE 2. The endless annular stiffening member 20 will be of a length which exceeds the perimeter of the opening through the toilet seat so that when the cover is installed upon the seat, the endless annular stiffening member Will occopy a position beneath the seat as shown in FIGURE 4. Except for the securement of a suitable tensioning member 26, such as a band of elastic or a drawstring, around the outer peripheral edge 24 of the cover, the cover assembly illustrated in FIGURE 2 is ready for installation upon the toilet seat. After an annular tensioning member 26, such as the elastic band shown in FIGURE 5, has been secured around the outer periphery 24 of the cover 15, the cover may be installed upon a toilet seat 28 by lifting the seat upwardly from the toilet bowl, placing the annular stiffening member 20 against the underside of the sent 28 and then pushing the remaining portion of the cover upwardly through the opening in the center of the seat. The annular tensioning member 26 which is, of course, constructed of a flexible material, is then passed over the outer edges of the seat 28 and allowed to contact inwardly along the underside of the seat. If a drawstring is utilized as the tensioning member 26, it will be drawn up tautly and knotted underneath the seat 28. The appearance of the cover 15 after installation upon a toilet seat 28 is illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. It is to be noted that the rear central portion of the seat 28 where a hinge structure 30 is ordinarily attached is left uncovered by the cover 15 so that there is no possibility of the cover becoming bunched up or wrinkled at this position, nor can it afford any interference with the proper operation of the hinge structure.

The function of the annular stilfening member 20 and the tensioning member 26 which are secured to the cover 15 at its inner and outer peripheries, 22 and 24 respectively, may best be explained by reference to FIGURES 3 and 4. The stilfenting member 20 is endless, as has previously been pointed out, and therefore tends to retain its shape considerably better than a two ended stiffening member. Since the endless annular stiffening member 20 circumscribes and area which is larger than the area of the hole through the toilet seat 28, there is no possibility of the cover 15 being inadvertently pulled out of place by forces acting transversely across the cover in a direction away from the center of the seat.

The tensioning member 26 which is secured to the outer peripheral edge 24 of the cover 15 is itself constantly in tension while the cover is in position upon the toilet seat 28. In the case of an elastic tensioning member, the elastic band is of a smaller diameter than the toilet seat 28 when the band is in its relaxed state. Placing the tensioning member 26 in tension in turn constantly biases the outer peripheral edge 24 of the cover 15 inwardly toward the center of the toilet seat 28. This constantly applied bias places the cover 15 in tension in a transverse direction so that a smooth, wrinkle-firee appearance is presented by the portion of the cover which is exposed to view on the top of the seat 28.

A modified embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7. As illustrated in FIG- URE 6, the modified embodiment includes a pair of arcuately shaped panels 32 which are spaced apart from each other when positioned upon a toilet seat 34. Stated differently, each of the panels 32 has a pair of end or terminal portions 36, and the panels. are positioned on the seat 34 in such a way that the end portions 36 of each panel are spaced from the corresponding end portions of the other panel. This arrangement permits the rear central portion of the toilet seat 34 to be exposed or uncovered and also allows the front central portion of the seat to be uncovered. This is a particularly desirable arrangement for utilization in households enjoying the company of small children, since the stature of very young children frequently prevents their sitting far enough back upon the seat to avoid soilage by wetting of the front, central portion of the toilet seat cover. Moreover, interference of the cover with the proper functioning of a hinge structure 38 at the rear of the seat 34 is efiectively avoided. Bunching, puckering and development of wrinkles is also obviated by virtue of the spatial arrangement of the two panels 32.

As illustrated in FIGURE 7, considerable similarity exists between the manner of installation of the two-piece seat cover of FIGURE 6 upon a toilet seat to the way in which the preferred embodiment of the cover shown in FIGURE 4 is attached thereto. However, I have found that with the two-piece cover construction utilized in the modified embodiment, an improvement in function is achieved when an outwardly extending convolution 44 is formed in the endless annular stiffening member 20 at a position adjacent the rear central portion of the toilet seat. The outwardly extending convolution 44 not only functions to assist in maintaining the proper spacing of each of the panels 32 from each other, but also may be slightly compressed to permit an expansive force to be stored in the endless, annular member 20. This expansive force will continually act to urge the inner peripheral edges of the panels 32 outwardly beneath the seat 34. In a strict sense, therefore, the endless, annular stiffening member 20 which is utilized in the modified embodiment of the invention functions to place the panels of the cover in tension just as does the annular tensioning member 26 secured to the outer peripheral edge of the panels.

Finally, although a drawstring type of annular tensioning member 26 has been illustrated in FIGURE 6 and an ornamental knot 46 is shown securing the ends of the drawstring to each other, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a suitable elastic material may also be effectively used for the tensioning member.

From the foregoing discussions, it will be apparent that the toilet seat cover of the present invention constitutes a substantial improvement over those previous types of covers which have employed a two ended wire secured around the inner periphery of the cover for the purpose of holding such inner periphery beneath the toilet seat. The danger of injury by impalcmcnt upon the free ends of such wire is eliminated. Moreover, undesirable puncturing of the seat covers. or of other clothes or materials washed with such seat covers in also avoided. The covers of the present invention are also believed to be unique and considerably improved by virtue of the cutting away of a portion of the cover adjacent the rear thereof so that no interference is developed between the material of the cover and the hinge structure which is attached to the rear of the seat. This also avoids the puckering or wrinkling of the cover at this area on the seat and presents a much more attractive appearance when installed. It is also to be noted that by joining the two panels shown in FIGURE 1 to produce the cup-shaped cover shown in the preferred embodiment of FIGURE 2, a slight tendency to wrinkle when installed upon the seat and which has characterized previous covers cut from a single piece of material and occupying a single plane is obviated.

Slight departures in construction and modifications in configuration may be adopted without substantial deviation from the principles which are disclosed in the foregoing discussio-n. Insofar as such departures and modifications are utilized without departure from the principles hereinbefore discussed, they are deemed to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cover for a toilet seat comprising panel means of pliable material conforming generally in configuration to the shape of the toilet seat; a continuous, unbroken, endless, annular stilfening member secured around the inner periphery of said panel means for holding the inner edge of said panel means against the bottom of the seat adjacent the inner edge thereof, the length of said endless stiffening member being larger than the inner periphery of said toilet seat and smaller than the outer periphery thereof and adjustable means for securing the outer edge portion of said panel means over the outer edge of the toilet seat.

2. A cover for a toilet seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said endless, annular stiffening member is resilient and is provided with an outwardly extending convolution whereby a force tending to expand said stiffening member to a large included area may be stored in said convolution.

3. A cover for a toilet seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panel means is further characterized in having a pair of oppositely disposed end portions adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the hinge structure of the seat when said cover is installed on the seat.

4. A cover for a toilet seat as claimed in claim 3 wherein said endless annular stiffening member is provided with an outwardly extending convolution positioned between said end portions for retaining said end portions in spaced relation on each side of said hinge structure.

5. A cover for a toilet seat as claimed in claim 3 wherein said panel means is of two-part construction with each of said parts having a pair of opposite ends, and wherein said annular stiffening member is dimensioned to position said two parts on opposite sides of said toilet seat from each other with each end of each part being spaced horizontally from the nearest adjacent end of the other part whereby the hinge structure of the seat will not interfere with the proper positioning of the seat, and the portion of said seat diametrically opposite said hinge structure will be exposed.

6. A cover for a toilet seat comprising two panels of pliable material each having a pair of opposite ends, said panels conforming generally in configuration to the shape of the toilet seat; and an endless annular stiffening member secured to the inner periphery of said pair of panels and connecting said panels to each other, the length of said endless stiffening member being larger than the inner periphery of said toilet seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,603,694 MeCamy Sept. 2, 1952 2,61l,136 Diamond Sept 23, 1952 2,994,887 Thornton Aug. 8, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,596 Great Britain Nov. 26, 1891 

1. A COVER FOR A TOILET SEAT COMPRISING PANEL MEANS OF PLIABLE MATERIAL CONFORMING GENERALLY IN CONFIGURATION TO THE SHAPE OF THE TOILET SEAT; A CONTINUOUS, UNBROKEN, ENDLESS, ANNUALR STIFFENING MEMBER SECURED AROUND THE INNER PERIPHERY OF SAID PANEL MEANS FOR HOLDING THE INNER EDGE OF SAID PANEL MEANS AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT ADJACENT THE INNER EDGE THEREOF, THE LENGTH OF SAID ENDLESS STIFFENING MEMBER BEING LARGER THAN THE INNER PERIPHERY OF SAID TOILET SEAT AND SMALLER THAN THE OUTER PERIPHERY THEREOF AND ADJUSTABLE MEANS FOR SECURING THE OUTER EDGE PORTION OF SAID PANEL MEANS OVER THE OUTER EDGE OF THE TOILET SEAT. 